Between
November 2004 and January 2005, the Institute for Culturally Competent
Care (ICCC) conducted a needs assessment survey to identify perceived
needs for education and training in the area of culturally competent
care, as well as preferred methods to receive that education and training.
Among targeted recipients were physicians, physician assistants, osteopaths,
nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, and dieticians. The Colorado
Region opted out of the assessment survey because it was preparing
to conduct its own survey in the near future. The Southern California
and Northwest Regions participated through representatives because
each Region had recently conducted similar surveys.
Respondents
were almost exclusively physicians (MDs). The possible reasons for
this include: 1) key regional diversity contacts had primarily MD
e-mail lists and/or are accustomed to surveying physicians; 2) the
lack of appropriate contacts with access to RN e-mail lists; 3) historically,
RNs are less likely to respond to these types of survey requests;
and 4) RN Union concerns.
Survey Questions
To address
the stated twofold purpose of the survey, the following questions
were asked:
- Would
you be interested in attending (additional) culturally competent
care training if conveniently offered in your Region?
- If
YES to No. 1, what topics would you like to see addressed? (Five
options were provided in addition to an "Other" category,
which included a narrative box.)
- How
do you prefer to receive training or information on culturally competent
care? (Eight options were provided in addition to a "Combination
of the above" or "Other" category, which included
a narrative box. Choices included: Printed material, Web-based training,
video vignettes, e-mail, videoconference, grand rounds, workshops,
CDs/DVDs, combination of above, and other.)
- Would
you be interested in receiving CME/CEU credit for attending training
in culturally competent care?
- Specifically,
are you interested in receiving CME/CEU credit for training on the
basis of the information in the Provider Handbook series
on culturally competent care?
- If
YES to question No. 5 on CME/CEU credit for training on the basis
of information in the handbooks, how would you like the training
delivered? (Please select no more than three choices: Read the handbook
and answer multiple-choice questions, grand rounds, CD/DVD, workshop,
Web-based training, and other.)
- Identify
your job or position. (Seven options were provided in addition to
an "Other" category, which included a narrative box.)
- Please
identify your Region.
Perceived
Needs
Nationally,
73% (n = 879) of respondents indicated that they would be interested
in attending additional culturally competent care training if conveniently
offered. The lowest interest rate was in Ohio (70.5%), with the Northwest
and Southern California at 100%. The area of greatest interest was
"crosscultural communication skills with culturally diverse populations"
(74%). The other two areas of greatest interest were "understanding
health beliefs and practices" (68%) and "how to best use
interpreter services" (49%).
Respondents
indicated particular interest in learning about two broad population
areas: Latinos (also identified as Hispanics, Mexicans, Central Americans,
Latin Americans, and Spanish language) and Asian and Pacific Islanders
(also identified as Chinese, Vietnamese, SE Asian, East Indian, Pacific
Islanders, Pakistani, Mien, Korean, Cambodian, Laotian).
Training Preferences
When
responding regarding the preferred method of training, respondents
were requested to select up to but not more than three choices from
a list. The most often chosen responses were grand rounds, workshops,
and printed materials (see Table 1). Significant numbers (>300
responses each) also responded affirmatively to the use of new technologies
(videoconferences and Web-based training). Of the 50 who wrote in
to describe a combination or alternative option, the main message
was the importance of offering CME credit. This was also reflected
in the responses to the question of interest in receiving CME/CEU
credit for training in culturally competent care.
Provider Handbook
Series
ICCC
produces a Provider Handbook Series, which speaks to the requested
areas of interest for training/learning needs and population groups.
Culturally Competent Care Training may be modeled from information
in the Handbook Series in order to meet providers' needs, including
the provision of CME credit. The survey, however, indicated a general
lack of familiarity with this series, indicating the need to promote
the Handbook Series to increase awareness nationally.
Summary
ICCC
has much to glean from the six questions posed in this survey. Together
with regional diversity educators, ICCC has multiple opportunities
to impact the quality of culturally competent care delivered by all
its clinicians. Results will help inform the Institute for Culturally
Competent Care's ongoing priorities and strategic initiatives.
